Virgin Australia to resume non-stop Melbourne–Los Angeles service

Virgin Australia has announced it will resume its non-stop Melbourne to Los Angeles route beginning April 2017.

According to routesonline.net, the carrier has opened up reservations for the service.

Subject to government approval, Virgin Australia will operate the route five times weekly. Flight VA023 will depart Melbourne every Wednesday and Friday at 1130 and arrive in Los Angeles at 0900. The return flight, VA024 will then take off from Los Angeles at 2100 before touching back down in Melbourne at 0600 two days later.

Flights will be operated by a B777-300ER, which features a three-class configuration, with 37 seats in business class, 24 in premium economy and 278 in economy.

Virgin had previously operated direct flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles, but axed the service in 2014 due to increasing competition from fellow Australian carrier Qantas as well as United – which also operates a direct Melbourne–Los Angeles service.